Syfy Hunters Series Premiere (Review)

Decorated FBI agent Flynn Carroll's world is turned upside down when his wife, Abby, goes missing. When it becomes clear her abduction is tied to a group of ruthless - and extraterrestrial - terrorists called Hunters, Flynn is recruited by a secret government organization to bring the aliens down.

Hunters has a lot going for it and a lot going against it. The first thing Hunters has going for it that will have you tune in is the concept. The concept of aliens being terrorist is fresh and sold me on the goal of the antagonist. The aliens have been monitor by a special task force of our government hell bent on stopping them. I like the setup of this threat and this episode we get from the first scene that the alien is indeed a threat. Another thing I enjoyed about episode one is our main character Flynn. He is reaction to this new world filled with aliens is great. One minute you, your wife and the teenager staying with you are dealing with the normal teenage problems. The next minute your wife Abby is kidnapped by the aliens known as Hunters.  The show setups a lot of questions in the first episode. Why do the Hunters want Abby? Why are the Hunters targeting this planet? What is their motive? Finally Regan is clearly the best part of this show. There is much mystery around her character. Regan is a Hunter and she sides with the humans. Her back story is not shown but their is a hint during a fight scene that give clues. She also seems to like humans in an intimate matter as well which raises more questions. Regan has a no nonsene attitude and her link to the Hunters will have you watching if you can get pass certain things holding the show back.

With an interesting concept, two characters to get invested in especially Regan. The show has a few problems. One of the main problems is a show like this needs a bigger budget. I think with a bigger budget the full vision of the show can be realized. The effects are not the best and you can see it in the action. Also what takes me out of the alien element is that they look like humans with a few effects to make them different. Maybe in later episodes the true form of the aliens will show so I wouldn't write it off yet. Finally some of the acting is way over the top. The dramatic scenes that I was supposed to feel something I felt nothing because of the overselling. As stated it's just the first episode and I still think you should judge for yourself. I will stay for Regan backstory and why she's sided witg the humans. However so far the show has a nice concept but it needs a bigger budget, a shift more on Regan and improvement with some acting.

Final Score 3 out of 5: Not bad but needs improvements.

DEADPOOL Gets Second Ongoing Series

Deadpool is leading his second ongoing series as Marvel has greenlit the current miniseries Deadpool and the Mercs for Money as an ongoing beginning in July, according to ComicBook. In the new series, the the mercenary team will reportedly be "hunting radioactive villains." Longtime Deadpool writer Cullen Bunn will continue on the book, and be joined by artist Iban Coello

"I don't think we set out for the miniseries to act as a pilot episode. I mean, whenever you do a limited run, you hope the reaction will be strong enough to warrant a continuation, and that's what is happening here," said Bunn. "I don't want to be too cryptic, but this new series offered some unique challenges and opportunities that I just couldn't pass up. I really think this will be something very different than what you might expect. It's safe to say that the tone of this series is pretty different from the tone of the mini. I wish I could say more, but I think all will be made clear by the end of the first arc.

The solicitation for the first issue of the ongoing title is as follows:

DEADPOOL & THE MERCS FOR MONEY #1
CULLEN BUNN (W) • IBAN COELLO (A)
Cover by Iban Coello
VARIANT COVER BY GIUSEPPE CAMUNCOLI
ACTION FIGURE VARIANT COVER BY JOHN TYLER CHRISTOPHER
YOUNG VARIANT COVER BY SKOTTIE YOUNG
HIP-HOP VARIANT COVER BY TBA
BLANK VARIANT COVER ALSO AVAILABLE

Deadpool is one of the best mercenaries on the planet. He may even be a passable Avenger—jury’s still out. But one thing’s for sure—Deadpool is a terrible team leader. Think we’re lying? Ask the Mercs for Money! Deadpool’s taken on a new high-paying mission to take out radioactive super villains...and his Mercs aren’t nearly as immune to radiation as his healing-factored heinie is. Deadpool veteran Cullen Bunn brings us mo’ mercs, mo’ money and naturally, mo’ problems.

32 PGS./Parental Advisory …$3.99

source: Newsarama and comicbook.com

Hardcore Henry Review (The Fathom fan Experience)

Hey O&G fans, Thursday April 7th we were invited to Fathom Hardcore Henry Fan experience to see a early showing of the movie. The Fan experience featured a Q&A with the writer/Director and star of the film. Fans were also given a prequel comicabout the main villain of the movie. As always here is a synopsis of the film:

Hardcore Henry is a first-person action film from the eyes of Henry, who's resurrected from death with no memory. He must discover his identity and save his wife from a warlord with a plan to bio-engineer soldiers.

REVIEW

First I want to say in my opinion this film, that is a little over an hour and thirty mins was pretty awesome. I'm a fan of FPS games so this was something I would enjoy. Hardcore Henry was shot almost entirely with Gopro camera's (Which the director explained during the Q&A that the camera's are mounted just under the nose and not the forehead for an accurate view). Anyone who saw director Ilya Naishuller youtube short Bad Mother F%$ker will recognize a few of the scenes and characters in the movie.

The Russian-made action flick, mimics the experience of watching someone else play afirst-person shooter with sub-Duke Nukem humor. The title character, played by a team of stuntmen, is an amnesiac super-soldier who wakes up in an airship above Moscow and plummets into the city below in an escape pod so he can rescue his scientist wife, Estelle (Haley Bennett), from the clutches of telekinetic albino Akan (Danila Kozlovsky).

The action was good and pretty brutal (especially the last fight scene). Henry dispatches with his enemies with a number of weapons from Knives, Guns, Bricks, Sticks, etc... so the killings get very creative. The story didn't lag (C.O.D Joke) and had a cute song/Dance number whileone of the characters explains his Avatars. One of my two problem with the movie is the shaky camera at times, which can make you a bit dizzy if you're not used to it. You also start to lose the point of the story a few times, but it will all make sense when you get to the end.

Overall Hardcore Henry is a good movie that might not be everyone. The action is great and will appeal to anyone into FPS. My final review of Hardcore Henry is 3 stars.

by Sean Tucker

Maken-Ki! Season 2 Review

Takeru and his Leadership Committee comrades are the last line of defense when it comes to ridding Tenbei Academy of mischievous Maken users. But saving all these succulent student bodies from a hoard of hocus pocus hornballs is no easy trick. Not when there's a pervy creeper pinning bras to the bulletin boars, a magical feline turning coed cuties into irresistible sex kittens, and a must see manga fest where the costumes get mysteriously shrunken down to scandalous sizes! Through it all, Takeru keeps his mind on the mammaries and the mammaries on his mind as the luscious ladies of the Leadership Committee prove that their magic is breast in class!

If I was to describe Maken-Ki! in word that word will be hilarious. I didn't get a chance to see season 1 of the show. In fact I was skeptical about entering a season and show with a blind eye. Usually when I watch anything I like to start from the first season, this way I have a full understanding of the characters, plot, setting and tone of the show. Thankfully Maken-Ki! is a show that you can start from the season 2 and still understand everything that has happen previously. Maken-Ki! succeeds because of the way the story is presented, writing, voice acting and animation. This show doesn't take itself seriously and knows what to do or say to deliver the comedic laughs. As a comedy show it does something some anime shows do, that necessarily don't work but here it does. The show constantly breaks the forth wall and say things that the audience might be thinking. As I was watching the show there was a harem scene and I was saying to myself okay this is cliche. Long and behold one of the characters points out the scene as a typical anime cliche and proceeded to end the cliche. It moments like this that really deliver and worked for me. The show is aware that it's not something we haven't seen before, and it points that out when they do something that has been done tons of times.

In addition I must stress that this show is NOT FOR YOUR KIDS! Part of what makes Maken-Ki a funny show is the an adult/immature humor. The jokes, situations are not for everyone. There is tons of boob jokes, sexual situations and fan service. If you're not a fan of fan service this show might not be for you. Maken-Ki! is uncut and does show everything expect for the genitalia. The characters are teenagers and what usually is on the mind of a perverted teenage male? The answer to that is sex of course. The fan service and sex jokes work in this anime because it's part of the story and it's not doing fans ervice or being perverted, misogynistic just for the sake of it. The story has perverted characters and the show is just showcasing what perverts do. However beyond the jokes, perverted antics and what some might consider misogynistic behavior. Maken-Ki has a lot of heart and a few messages along the way. A few messages hidden in the show is women empowerment. For every perverted joke, misogynistic act by our male protagonist there was an action from the girls correcting them. The female characters make it known of their independence, strength and definitely that their not objects. One episode that stuck with me was episode 5. Here our protagonist Takeru is stuck on an island with the school nurse. While he thinks this could be a chance to capitalize on the situation he instead learns about this woman's life, her insecurity and we as audience see that Takeru can be serious when he needs to be. It's one of the highlights of the show with a great production, pacing and stellar voice casting.

Overall if you want a good laugh, not easily offended and know that a show might is not taken seriously this one is for you. The voice acting is enjoyable both English and Japanese dub. The animation is good with a lot of shots of fan service. There is some hidden messages and themes to pay attention once you look beyond the jokes. The show is enjoyable, smart and delivers a good time. 

Blu- Ray Features Note - The Blu-Ray features commentary from the people who worked on the show. They describe characters and what's it like filming. Very funny as well.

Final Score 4 out of 5 Stars.